Computer Programmer earn $100,390 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $75,850 and $130,680. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.
Also known as:
Computer Programmer earn $100,390 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $75,850 and $130,680. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Well above average for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Computer Programmer roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
The BLS projects -6.0% employment change for Computer Programmer through 2034, a declining trend, below the national average of +5%. About 5,500 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
Declining employment projected.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Computer Programmer professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $100,390 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 14,720 | $116,220 | +15.8% |
| 2 | Texas | 11,220 | $80,820 | -19.5% |
| 3 | New York | 7,090 | $100,410 | +0.0% |
| 4 | Michigan | 5,350 | $68,790 | -31.5% |
| 5 | Florida | 4,700 | $98,630 | -1.8% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Computer Programmer positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 9 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Administration | 85,302 | $58,716 | 1,975 |
| 2 | Computer Science | 72,693 | $107,009 | 1,053 |
| 3 | Computer Software & Media | 14,684 | $58,894 | 726 |
| 4 | Computer Systems Networking | 13,734 | $73,587 | 618 |
| 5 | Computer Programming | 12,983 | $83,439 | 628 |
| 6 | Management Information Systems | 11,695 | $83,290 | 561 |
| 7 | Data Analytics | 7,294 | — | 292 |
| 8 | Computer Engineering Tech | 3,432 | $83,742 | 250 |
| 9 | Computational Science | 2,167 | $104,864 | 104 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 97 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 4 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 6 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
Once you've sized up Computer Programmer, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Computer Programmer pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Computer Programmer has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 2 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.
The 72 careers projected to shrink through 2034 are not the low-wage ones you would guess. The steepest decliner is payroll clerks, and most still pay well today.
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
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